Help requested for cold damaged yucca gloriosa in DC

[mywaterfront]

Hello all,

I'm new here...and greetings from the Nation's Capitol.

I have what I believe to be a group of 5 Yucca gloriosa. We've had some consistently cold weather here in DC this winter and my yuccas, which used to stand up to 8' tall, have all fallen over. Several of the 5-6" diameter trunks are literally bent at 90 degrees. Its so sad to see!

The damage is cold damage, not snow damage. The yuccas leaves are all still green...clearly they are still alive. The trunks to not appear to be soft or rotted.

What are my options? Do I try to stake them (it'd be hard, i think). Are they goners? Do I cut the trunks and wait/hope for rejunenation?

Any advice appreciated...i'm a little at a loss as they are so large.

Best, Tanya

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[TimMAz6]

welcome to the board!

It appears the snow loads bent the Yuccas over............too far over in my opinion to prop them up again. I think new off shoots will grow where the trunk is bent and around the base if you stake it up again. If you really want to save it, prop it up with a stake and see what happens. You will never kill that Yucca, worst case is a bunch of new offshoots will emerge.

I lost an arm to a Y. gloriosa this winter too.....from the snow loads. I'll just cut it off when it warms and plant the bottom portion of the stem in soil where it will re-root.

<img src=http://i30.photobucket.com/albums/c309/ ... 8deshp.jpg>

[lucky1]

Hi Tanya, welcome aboard PN....yipppeeeeee!
Brutal winter!

Ditto what Tim said.
Hope they come back gangbusters for you; let us know.

But just in case, you need some more.
And some palms.

Barb

[VirginiaPalms]

I'm in Northern VA and some of mine aren't standing up as straight and upright as they were prior to this most brutal winter.

I have several varieties, the aliofolias look pretty strong, the gloriosas have wilted similar to yours. I've noticed similar results on others in the DC area.

I am hoping to see a rebound this Spring.

[chadec]

Welcome to the board!

I have already dug up several yucca that have rotted or just could not manage this years extra wet winter. I simply cut off the soft tissue and trimmed up the leaves so that the remaining trunk is ready for replanting in spring.

[VirginiaPalms]

Your gloriosa looks like mine....


Summer 2013
<img src="http://i326.photobucket.com/albums/k434 ... be9538.jpg">



Spring 2014
<img src="http://i326.photobucket.com/albums/k434 ... b56eb8.jpg">


I got this big healthy plant from a family in St.Marys, MD. A few years old and had always been outdoors. Looked really sharp and erect until mid-winter, now it's kind of limp looking.

[VirginiaPalms]

I meant to also add that I have my yuccas zip tied to stakes.. Doesn't help with the droopy tops but prevents a total collapse.